MediGap Advisors is hosting live Q&A webinars in August to answer public questions about how changes brought on by the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare,” could affect Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Prescription Drug plans in coming years. Free registration is available at http://www.MedigapAdvisors.com/webinar.htm.

Three times in August (the first, sixth and twentieth), the public is invited to join MediGap Advisors live webinar to learn what could happen to Medicare and the private insurance company policies that supplement it. Webinars begin at 7 p.m. EST and may be joined online or by telephone. Topics will include:

Projected $135 billion cuts to Medicare Advantage plans through 2019, which could result in higher premiums or fewer benefits

How reform is closing the “donut” hole and covering more prescriptions

How Accountable Care Organizations and an Independent Advisory Board could affect Medicare, including possible reductions to prescription benefits.

Wiley Long, president of MediGap Advisors, finds many clients are worried about all the changes affecting their Medicare choices. “It’s not easy to follow how the ‘sustainable growth rate’ (SGR) reimbursement formula is supposed to control payments to doctors, or how certain provisions of Obamacare could affect your ability to get a doctor’s appointment. People deserve to know that the latest bipartisan bill in the House repeals SGR, but really if we expect to keep Medicare going for the long run, we’ll need competitive pricing and market-driven innovation, not central planning,” Long said.

Long believes that many areas of the country will be experiencing doctor shortages as Obamacare goes into full implementation in 2014 and 2015. “I recommend that you make sure you maintain a strong relationship with your primary care doctor because in many areas of the country there will be waiting lines to see a doctor.”

MediGap Advisors will answer pubic questions about the future of Medicare on August 1, August 6, and August 20 at 7 p.m. EST. Free registration is available and the public is welcome to join more than one webinar if they have additional questions.

Along with beneficiaries, children of parents approaching retirement age, and other caregivers may participate in live Question and Answer Webinars. Registration is available at www.MedigapAdvisors.com/webinar.htm.

Jim McFadden has over 11 years of executive-level experience in the health insurance industry, is a youth baseball, softball and football coach, and has one of the worst fantasy football records in the world.